The crowd buzzes, all cheer as number seven walks up from the deck. Over the loudspeaker, Corry Marshall announces his daughter, Grace Marshall (’26), up to bat. “Smells like Teen Spirit” starts playing throughout the stands, as the crowd falls silent in anticipation. The ball leaves the pitcher’s hand, and everyone’s heads turn to follow the motion. With a loud “smack”, the ball is in the outfield.
Marshall has been a starting player on the varsity softball team for the past three years, even being selected for First Team All-Area in 2025. Her dad has always been an active part of her softball career, guiding her from her primary years all the way to her up and coming D1 career.
“My dad has played on a travel softball team since I was born, and I grew up watching him play, so eventually, I quit my other sports to play softball in fifth grade,” Marshall said.
Once she focused more on softball, her biggest struggle became moving up in levels of talent.
“Moving from recreational softball to a travel softball team was definitely difficult,” Marshall said. “I overcame it by not giving up and working hard with my dad to get better as an all round athlete.”
Her dad has been a constant mentor, supporting her and inspiring her to push through challenges.
“[My dad] has made the biggest impact; he has been my coach on and off the field and has done nothing but support me through every team I’ve filtered through and every mountain I’ve had to climb,” Marshall said. “He was my inspiration to start softball, and he pushed me to be the best player I could be. I wouldn’t be committed without his help.”
As part of the varsity softball team as well as a club travel softball team, being an athlete is a large part of her identity. However, she is able to dedicate her time to both her sports and education. Her work ethic shows both off and on the field.
“My training routine changes depending on the season,” Marshall said. “In the fall it’s typically more packed. I go to the gym once or twice a week before school, and then would have practice twice a week for around two hours outside with my travel team, and then on the weekends we would be out of state for tournaments. In the winter/off-season we calm down more as a team. I will try to go to the gym more than once a week by myself and for travel we would practice for two hours on Sundays, but we would have lifts or green day once a week for Madison.”
She recently committed to George Mason University (GMU) for softball after receiving multiple offers. Marshall felt GMU was the best fit for her, with great faculty and an advanced curriculum for her major, psychology.
“It had everything I needed and wanted, and it helped so much that I will be staying close to my family,” said Marshall. “It has a really good program with so many opportunities for my major, and it just fits perfectly for me. I plan to study psychology because I really want to do something surrounding behavioral or cognitive studies.”
At GMU, Marshall plans to keep growing and get plenty of playing time.
“My goal is to honestly just work my way onto the field and just work hard to get better,” Marshall said.
